By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – The Philippines can secure up to 25 million doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine from two American biopharmaceutical companies, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez.
According to Romualdez, Moderna and Arcturus Therapeutics have given their commitment to supply the country with COVID-19 vaccines once their proposals have been approved.
“I am pleased to report that aside from Pfizer, Moderna and Arcturus are ready to supply the Philippines anywhere between four to 25 million of their respective vaccines starting Q3 of 2021, should the Philippine government find their proposals acceptable,” he said.
“We are hoping our government will consider the promising candidates of Moderna and Arcturus for inclusion in our country’s pool of anti-COVID vaccines,” Romualdez added.
Both vaccine developers are using the new messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology, which teaches the cells how to make a protein that could trigger an immune response inside the body.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has warned the public that getting COVID-19 vaccine not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives no guarantee of safety.
“Naiintindihan po namin ang kasabikan ng ating mga kababayan sa bakuna pero kailangan po natin alalahanin na wala pa pong nag-aaply sa FDA para marehistro ang kanilang bakuna,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“Ibig sabihin, wala pang authorized na COVID-19 vaccine na gagamitin sa ating populasyon,” she added. “Antayin po natin iyong registered na bakuna.”
Vergeire then noted that suppliers and manufacturers of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines could face sanctions. She also urged the public to report such illegal vaccination to authorities.
“May kaukulang parusa po para sa mga suppliers at manufacturers na magbibigay ng hindi rehistradong bakuna, pati iyong [nagbebenta] online,” Vergeire said./PN
